Abstract

Humans are a natural reservoir for Staphylococcus aureus. This micro-organism is a frequent cause of clinically important infections, including bacteremia, metastatic abscesses, septic arthritis, pneumonia, osteomyelitis, and wound infections [1]. Many of these infections are nosocomial and lead to increased hospital stay, antibiotic use, costs, and mortality [2]. Due to an increasing number of infections caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains, which are now most often multi-resistant, therapy has become problematic. Even more worrying is the fact that recently the first vancomycin-resistant S. aureus has been cultured in the United States [3]. Therefore, prevention of staphylococcal infections is of the uttermost importance.